Sweet + Salty

Written by on in Bender's Blenders, Dinner, Lunch, Tidbits and Treats

I’m a big fan of the sweet and salty flavor combination.

Almond butter with jelly? Of course.

Chocolate with pretzels? Obviously.

Smoothie with meat-cheese-and-cracker platters? Wait…wha?

I can guarantee you that they were not all thrown together into that blender. But did I at least have you thinking I was that crazy for a second or two? If so, my job here is done. :mrgreen:

In reality, that blender was filled with the contents of our smoothie soup.

(Wine stain on the TV tray not included. Yikes.)

Originally, Bobby and I were thinking of hot soup on Saturday. But for once, the temperatures in Chicago rose above the freezing level, and chilled soup seemed much more appealing. Even better when there is granola involved.

I received a few samples from Love Grown Foods recently and so far, they have all tasted amazing. The above is their Apple Walnut Delight, which had huge chunks of walnuts and dried apple. It certainly lived up to its delightful name.

Combined with one cup of orange juice, one ripened banana, Vega Shake & Go and copious cups of frozen blueberries and strawberries, a meal was served in seconds flat.

Then Bobby brought out Saltfest 2011.

We chased our smoothie soup with an assortment of deli sausage, cheddar cheese and multi-grain crackers (which, Bobby learned via my saying so, are not the same as whole grain). Hey, I wasn’t complaining. Once you got over the unusual taste pairing, the meal was quite delicious.

Especially while cheering on a certain company-sponsored NASCAR driver.

Yes, you read that logo right. Flatout, my oldest and favorite (I can say that, right?) client, joined forces with NASCAR. The driver, David Reutimann, placed 14th overall. He was 6th at one point, which made it extra exciting to watch.

We (read: I) amused ourselves on more than one occasion by cheering, “Reutimann is flat-out fast!”

I got that one from Mama Bender. Clearly an “interesting” sense of humor runs in the family.

All in all, a great way to spend a relaxing Saturday afternoon. Life was sweet…and salty.

Speaking of Mama Bender, I’m off to Arizona this week! Working and also playing in a golf tournament with the lady of the house. It’s the first we’ve competed in together since at least sophomore year of high school, when she traded me for my brother Eric in all parent-child events. But I don’t hold a grudge. 😉

What are your plans for the last week of April?

So excited that May is almost here! I love my birthday month!

See you in Scottsdale!

Abrazos,

16 Comments

  4. I love snacky dinners 🙂 That granola is all over blog world and people seem to love it! I must find a bag asap. Enjoy Arizona!!!

  6. Love Grown is just up the road from us! We’ve torn through a few samples ourselves. 🙂

  11. I can’t believe it is the last week of April – but I’m so glad it is! This is my finals week and I plan to do nothing school related for at least a week – until I have to start studying for my BIG standardized test this summer!

  14. I too am a sweet and salty gal. I second the yogurt pretzels comment. Yum 🙂 Enjoy AZ. I just got back from a fellow Northwestern grad’s wedding in TX so my plans are to chill in NYC this weekend. Yay!

  15. haha, I’ll have smoothies with anything (not inside, but accompanying it) too. Weird, but good to know I’m not the only one 🙂

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